[Artchic528]

It's rather embarrassing, and very much a disgusting habit, but I also feel it could be linked to my mental health issues.

For a few years now I've found myself consuming pus from popped pimples. I'm ashamed to admit this, as it's beyond disgusting, but I also feel it may be a form of what is known as Pika. That's a disorder where one consumes items or substances with no nutritional value, or that are normally not eaten.

I'm very much aware I'm doing this behavior, but can't seem to stop it. I...have no reason or desire to, other than it being unbelieveably gross and maybe potentially harmful to me....

Are there any others out there that can relate? I know I should probably tell my therapist or psychiatrist about this, but I'm very much embarrassed and ashamed, and also repulsed even by it to an extent myself.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I now want to stop as it's not a habit I wish to linger on with me and start effecting those closest to me.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Pus is probably quite rich in protein, the remains of bacterial cells walls might elicit an immune response and may contain other molecules such immunoglobulins and interferon so eating pus might be a trait that had an evolutionary value in producing the modern human person. As such it would not be a thing that you need feel bad about yourself over - you have no choice, evolution never rests.

Question is though, where do you go when you run out of your own pustules? Please don't answer that.

You might try to see if you can remember when you started doing this and if the timing coincided with any medication changes.

I ate huge amounts of ice for around ten years then noticed last year when I tapered my Cymbalta down to a much lower dose that the craving suddenly went away. Before the Cymbalta, I was on a high dose of Effexor (also an SNRI med.)

I tried eating an ice cube recently just out of curiousity. My reaction was "ouch, that's hard" and "ick, it tastes funny".

Eating lots of ice is considered a form of pica. There's actually a web site for ice eaters. Which restaurants have the best ice, etc. (Subway)

Your habit doesn't sound harmful, but I can see why you would be concerned. Compulsions are generally concerning to us, especially if it's one that other people might not understand or if it annoys other people. (I used to get people telling me constantly to "STOP THAT CRUNCHING NOISE.")

As far as the repulsion factor, hey, they're treating some autoimmune illnesses with fecal pellets now.

[waggiedog]

Hi there. Yup, can understand you are mildly repulsed by your 'habit' and I'm wondering if you ARE here because you would prefer to stop. Someone said how long have you done this? Did it start in childhood? If so then something fuelled your secret habit, or may have done. I eat whole lemons, cut into pieces, if I let myself undercooked or raw sausages!! I guess that's food though. As a child I chewed little bits of thin string, and swallowed them!!! I don't need to tell you how they came out!!! I haven't a clue why I did it and I don't know when it stopped, around 45 years ago I guess!!! I'm wondering if the person who mentioned protein in pus could have a point, and you're needing more protein.I think however, that pus is a discharge made by boils, wounds etc so is probably a type of "catchment" for rubbish and infection. ~~. Yeah maybe it would be better to have a try at cutting down with a view to stopping. Xxxxx